Insurance commissioner to join AmeriHealth New Jersey as SVP

Ken Kobylowski, the outgoing chief of the state Department of Banking and Insurance, will join AmeriHealth New Jersey next month after stepping down from his current post.The Cranbury-based insurer announced Monday that Kobylowski will serve as senior vice president of ­­­­­­provider contracting and network operations, effective July 13. Upon joining the company, he will have overall responsibility for AmeriHealth New Jersey’s provider relations, provider partnerships and provider contracting and reimbursement.

The role means Kobylowski will work to ensure that AmeriHealth New Jersey’s provider networks support the various product lines of the business, including consumer-directed products, accountable care organization partnerships, tiered networks, pay-for-performance and shared-savings models, according to a news release.

“We are very excited to have Ken join the AmeriHealth New Jersey executive leadership team,” Judith L. Roman, CEO and president, AmeriHealth New Jersey, said in a prepared statement. “Ken played a critical leadership role as commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance in New Jersey during the historic implementation of the Affordable Care Act. His vast industry experience, coupled with his in-depth understanding of the New Jersey health care environment, will be an invaluable asset to our team.”

Gov. Chris Christie announced last week that Kobylowski would step down, along with Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd and Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff. On Monday, O’Dowd reportedly was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to join the board of directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Kobylowski, an attorney, was confirmed as commissioner in January 2012 and previously served as the agency’s acting director of banking and the department’s chief of staff. Christie said he will nominate Richard J. Badolato, a partner at the law firm of Connell Foley in Roseland, to serve as commissioner of banking and insurance. 

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